In a significant legal victory, mining giant BHP has won its appeal to dismiss a contempt of court case in the United Kingdom. The case was linked to the company’s alleged efforts to influence legal proceedings following the 2015 Mariana dam collapse in Brazil, one of the country’s most devastating environmental tragedies.
The Allegations Lawyers representing hundreds of thousands of Brazilian claimants—including local municipalities, businesses, and individuals—had accused BHP of interfering with the justice system. They alleged that the mining company funded a lawsuit in Brazil through the mining lobby group Ibram to prevent Brazilian municipalities from participating in a massive group-action lawsuit currently being heard in London. The claimants argued that this tactical move to block their participation amounted to contempt of court.
The Court’s Ruling While a lower court had originally allowed the contempt proceedings to move forward last year, the UK Court of Appeal overturned that decision on Monday, March 16, 2026. This ruling effectively brings the contempt portion of the legal battle to a close. BHP welcomed the decision, maintaining its long-standing position that the UK litigation is unnecessary and duplicates existing reparation programs and legal processes already established in Brazil.
The Broader Legal Battle Despite this win, BHP still faces significant legal pressure regarding the disaster itself. The 2015 collapse of the Fundão dam (operated by Samarco, a joint venture between BHP and Vale) released millions of tons of toxic waste, killed 19 people, and caused catastrophic environmental damage.
- Liability: In November 2025, a UK court found BHP liable for the disaster.
- Pending Appeals: BHP is currently seeking permission to challenge that liability ruling.
- Future Trials: A second trial is scheduled for April 2027 to determine the exact amount of damages the company must pay, which could reach billions of pounds.
While the contempt charges have been dropped, the primary litigation remains a landmark case in English law, testing the accountability of multinational corporations for environmental disasters occurring overseas.